SA-born actor Stelio Savante applauds Supreme Court's citizenship ruling
South Africans will not lose their citizenship when they become citizens abroad, and no one is more excited than Hollywood actor and producer Stelio Savante.
We were born and raised in South Africa, we will always be South Africans at heart.
South African-born actor Stelio Savante is reacting to a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling regarding citizenship.
The court ruled that Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995, which automatically stripped South Africans of their citizenship when they obtain citizenship abroad, is "inconsistent with the Constitution".
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The law, which is a continuation of apartheid legislation, resulted in thousands of people- some unknowingly - losing their citizenship.
Stelio immigrated to America in the early 90s. He has been working in the country as an actor and filmmaker. The former Camps Bay resident is now lives in New York City.
"This morning has been an emotional one. I've never liked the fact that my American citizenship was held against me, because I love this great nation so literally being told that I'd been excommunicated never rang true," he wrote on Instagram this week.
The Supreme Court ruling means that all South Africans who lost their citizenship due to the law will have it reinstated.
Stelio says he is thankful for this huge win.
"Thank you to the South African Supreme Court & the Democratic Alliance for doing the right thing. I don't know if catharsis is the appropriate word because this was an injustice to begin with. But it is most definitely an answer to prayer."
The Democratic Alliance took the case to court. Read what the party had to say about the ruling here. You can also read the Supreme Court of Appeal's ruling on www.saflii.org.
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Stelio has made quite the name for himself in Hollywood. He is a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award nominee. He has worked on projects such as 'The Sopranos', 'Infidel', 'Running for Grace', 'Captain Fall' and 'Ugly Betty'.
According to his IMDb profile, he has over 135 international credits to his name.
Stelio told SA People in an interview that he was shocked and devastated when he lost his citizenship.
"We were born and raised in South Africa, we will always be South Africans at heart. And we are always going out of our way to employ, refer and celebrate other South Africans. Their victories are our victories. And this victory is both a relief and a celebration. An answer to prayer," he said.
Main image credit: Instagram/@steliosavante
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